FOUR MARY'S

Last night there were four Mary's
Tonight there'll only be three
There was Mary Eaton, an Mary Beaton
Mary Carmichel an' me

Last night I washed my queens feet
An' I put gold braids in her hair
An' th only'est thing it's ever gonna bring
To me is this death so sore

For word is in th kit-chen
An' words gone out in the hall
That Mary Hamilton goes out with child
To the highest Stewert of them all

He courted her in th kit-chin
He courted her in th hall
He promised her th whole wide world
But he gave to her nothing at t'all

Mary Hamilton walks a weep'in
Down by th lonely sea
I'll bare' this Stewert child alone
An' twill be th death o' me

Her wee barn was still born
She cast 'im in to th sea
Lie there, lie there, your Kings grandson
But you'll have no more of me

Now, down hath come her old Queen
With th gold braids stil in 'er hair
O, Mary Hamilton where's your child
I heard crying full sore

Ther n'er hath been a wee barn
Anyone plainly can see
T'is but this pain in my poor heart
An th weeping you heard it was me

Well, put on your dress of red, my dear
Or 'ither black or brown
For before tomorrows sun shall sink
Gonna ride you throuh Edinbrough town

She n'ither put on of dress of red
Nor yet th black or th brown
But arade herself in th puriest white
Yet they rode 'er through Edinborough town

And it's little did me own Mother think
Th't day she first cradled me
Th distance lands that I would roam
And th death I would have to di-e

Last night there were four Marys
Tonight there'll only be three
There was Mary Eaton, and Mary Beaton
Mary Carmichel, no me


From the Max Hunter Folk Song Collection Cat. 0583 (MFH 422)
As sung by Almeda Riddle, Heber Springs, Arkansas on October 23, 1965
@history @murder @royalty
Child #173
filename[ MARYHAM6
TUNE FILE: MARYS4
CLICK TO PLAY
MD
Feb07
mudcat.org

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